Ted. Northern New Mexico has been home to the Pueblo peoples for thousands of years. There are still 19 inhabited pueblos (or villages) with the most famous being Taos Pueblo. Many more have been abandoned, sometimes because of drought but often because of the arrival of settlers - first from New Spain (Mexico) and then the United States. One morning, Judy and I traveled from Santa Fe to visit the ruins of nearby Pecos Pueblo; now a National Historical Park.
Pecos Pueblo was located on Glorieta Pass, where one can cross the Sangre de Christo Mountains from the High Plains to the Rio Grande Valley. Here is where traders from the Pacific, the plains and Mexico could gather. The nearby Pecos River served as the boundary of the plains Indians (notably the Apache) who would come to Pecos to trade items such as buffalo hides and slaves with Puebloans for manufactured goods like pottery and textiles. With the arrival of the Spanish, and the United States, Glorieta Pass continued to be well travelled. It was a stop on the Santa Fe Trail, then the rail line from Chicago to Southern California, later US Route 66 and now Interstate 25. It is no coincidence that the one Civil War battle in New Mexico Territory took place on this pass.
Pecos Pueblo was abandoned on the 1830’s and the buildings fell into disrepair. Ranchers purchased the land and in the 1930’s the area around the Pueblo was know as the Forked Lightening Ranch. The owner, Buddy Fogelson married British actress, Greer Garson who became instrumental in transferring the land to the National Park Service.
Preservation work continues and we were fascinated to learn of the local history on a ranger led tour. For instance, we were not aware of the Pueblo Revolt of 1680 when nearly all of the Pueblo peoples rose up and chased the Spanish out of Nuevo Mexico (the name given to this province of New Spain). I won't dwell on the revolt but you can find a lot more information on this fascinating story on the Internet.
This was our first outing in New Mexico and it was apparent that we had a lot to learn during our time here. Here are a few snapshots.
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| Ruined church with Glorieta Mesa in background |
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| Foundations of houses |
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| Perimeter wall with trading field in background |
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| A kiva (sacred circular underground space) |
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| Kiva interior |
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| The 4th church (the 3rd was destroyed in the Revolt) |
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